All That Glitters (6 page)

How beautiful she is! he thought. He had admired her from a distance, but now, seeing her as Cameron Stuart, instead of the role she was playing, did funny things to his pulse. He wanted to go over and introduce himself, but felt it wasn’t quite the thing to do.

He took another look after he was seated. Who is that young man who is so attentive? he wondered. Something about him seemed vaguely familiar, as though it might be someone from his dim past. “Pardon, Monsieur—qui est cet homme?” he asked the waiter, nodding toward Cammie’s table.

The waiter smiled and answered in English. “Monsieur, that is Count Francois Dubonnet,” he told him.

Jeremy sat very still, letting it sink in. What was it that kept nudging at his memory? Pictures flashed through his mind, like neon lights going on and off, but nothing that he could zero in on.

He felt an innate antagonism toward Francois, and resented the way Cammie was hanging on to his every word. She obviously adores him, he thought, and this bothered him, although he didn’t know why. Why can’t she see that he’s bad news?

This startled him. What makes me
think that? I don’t even know him.

He snapped back to the present when the waiter spoke to him. “Monsieur, have you decided what you would like?”

“Oh—” Jeremy hastily scanned the menu—“yes. Just bring me your steak dinner, s’il vous plait. I’m quite hungry.”

“Oui, Monsieur. And what would you like to drink?”

“Some coffee, s’il vous plait,” he told him.

After the waiter left, Jeremy continued to stare at Cammie and Francois. That beautiful woman sitting beside Cammie must be Hildy, he guessed, who wrote those wonderful musicals. And that handsome man sitting next to Hildy must be her husband, Jay, the well known director. What a talented family!

Just then Cammie looked in his direction. Her blue eyes, even two tables away, sparkled merrily, and his heart turned over. He smiled and quickly averted his gaze, pretending to read the newspaper he had bought in the lobby before coming into the restaurant. Out of the corner of his eye he could see her rise from the table and prepare to leave. She looked briefly in his direction again and smiled.

Jeremy nodded and continued to read his paper, trying not to stare. He hurried through his dinner, anxious to make the phone call to the producer of the movie and find out where it had been filmed. After signing the tab, he went back to his room.

In less than two minutes he was connected with the overseas operator. It was ten in the morning in California, and the office was now open for business.

A woman answered the phone. “Good morning,” he heard. “Allied Productions. May I help you?”

“I’m calling from Paris, France,” Jeremy told her. “I flew in from New York last night, and I saw a movie on the plane. It was called ‘First Love.’ In one of the scenes it showed a Chateau in a town somewhere in France. It had stables and horses. Could you tell me what town and what Chateau that was?”

“I’m sorry, Sir,” she said, “but I’m not supposed to give out that information without permission from the producer, and he’s out of town right now. He’ll be back in three weeks, and can give you that information.”

Three weeks? Jeremy’s heart sank. “Are you sure he’ll be back by then?”

“That’s what he said,” she replied. “Sometimes there are snags in filming and plans change, but he should be here by then.”

Jeremy thought for a minute. “What’s his name? Is there any place I can contact him in the meantime? This is rather urgent.”

“His name is Paul Rudman. He can be reached in Mont Richard, a town in France. He’s filming a movie there. I don’t have the phone number, but it’s not too far from Chaumont. I’m sorry, but that’s all the information I can give you.”

Jeremy was disappointed. “Well—thank you very much. I’ll see how I make out here. If I don’t find him, I’ll call you again.”

He hung up, grabbed his jacket, and left the hotel, ready to tour the streets of Paris. As he walked through the lobby, he found himself looking around, hoping to catch a glimpse of Cammie, not knowing she had retired for the night.

The evening was balmy, and the streets were filled with people. He breathed deeply, feeling relaxed and at home. I must have been here before, he muttered. Why can’t I remember? It seemed as though he walked for hours, but it was only forty-five minutes later when he looked at his watch.

He found himself on a path by the Seine, and decided to take a ride on one of the boats. This, too, seemed familiar, and he felt somewhere in the dark recesses of his mind that someone had taken him on this same ride in the past that he couldn’t recall.

When he finally felt he had exhausted all efforts, he decided to go back to the hotel and get a good night’s sleep. Maybe tomorrow other memories will come back to me, he thought. If not, then I’ll rent a car and drive to Mont Richard. Paul Rudman will be there for three weeks, so I have a little time to stay in Paris and look around. I’ll take some side trips. Maybe I’ll recognize something on the outskirts.

But his real reason for staying, though he didn’t admit it even to himself, was that somewhere in the back of his mind the hope that Cammie might still be here, and that he might see her again, made him reluctant to leave.

CHAPTER VIII
 

Jay stood by the window in his hotel room, thinking. Hildy was still asleep. He was well aware that if Zack couldn’t find any further information on Francois, no one could. It was beginning to look pretty hopeless, and he felt desperate.

By the time he finished his shower, Hildy was awake. She sat up. “What time is it?” she asked him.

How beautiful she is first thing in the morning, Jay marveled. “Time to get up,” he said as he picked up her robe and handed it to her. “The water’s nice and hot. You’ll be finished with your shower in time for breakfast.”

As she disappeared into the bathroom, the phone rang.

“I’ll get it,” Jay told her.

It was Peter. “Jay, can you talk?”

“Yes. Hildy is taking her shower. She’ll be a few minutes. What’s on your mind?”

“I don’t know why, but I’m beginning to have doubts about Cammie’s involvement with Francois. Something feels terribly wrong.”

“I know,”
Jay agreed. He was silent for a moment, thinking. “Why
don’t we meet in Zack’s room after breakfast?” he suggested.
“I think you’ll be interested in what he has to
say. It wouldn’t hurt to talk with him and see
if we can’t come up with some ideas. The limo
isn’t scheduled to leave for Versailles until after lunch. Don’t
say anything to Jenny. Let her think we’re meeting to
plan something special for the day. I’ll do the same
with Hildy.”

“Maybe we can suggest that they go shopping,” Peter said.

“Fine! That’s an even better idea. Hildy saw some earrings yesterday that she wanted to buy, but we didn’t have time to stop.”

Peter sounded relieved. “Good! I’ll suggest it at breakfast. See you in the lobby in ten minutes.”

They were all dressed in casual attire when they met, ready to go into the restaurant. Francois was nowhere in sight. Halfway through the meal, Peter turned and spoke to Jenny. “Why don’t you gals do the shopping you didn’t get the chance to do yesterday? You know how we men are about shopping. You go, and we’ll have a gabfest.”

Jenny looked suspiciously at Peter. “What are you up to?”

Peter feigned innocence. “Nothing. We’ll wait for you back here. We should leave around two. Plan on being back around noon so we’ll have time for lunch before we leave for Versailles.”

Jenny merely nodded as she rose from her chair. “Let’s go!” she said to Hildy and Cammie. “This should be fun! See you later,” she told the men.

* * *

When they were no longer within earshot, Hildy turned to Jenny. “What was that all about?”

“I don’t know, but I learned long ago not to ask questions. When he’s ready to tell me he will.”

“Maybe it’s about the musical Peter was thinking of doing with me,” Cammie suggested. “But I don’t see how I can do it now. I’m getting married in three weeks, and Francois wants me to quit my singing and be a full time Countess.”

Hildy was stunned. “Cammie, you didn’t tell me this! Why does he want you to quit? You’ve worked so hard to get where you are. I would think he’d be proud of you and want you to continue.”

Cammie averted her eyes. “I was afraid you’d react like this. That’s why I didn’t mention it before. I know I should have told you, but it never seemed to be the right time.”

“Oh, Cammie, you can’t give up your singing!” Jenny exclaimed. “Why, that would be unthinkable! You’re so well established. You’re too young to retire. Peter will be so disappointed! You’d give all that up?”

“Well, I don’t really want to,” Cammie sighed, “but Francois seems to think it’s best that I do.” She hesitated. “He—uh—he feels it’s beneath the dignity of a Countess to perform on the stage. They do things a little differently in Europe. Oh, I know,” she said as Hildy started to interrupt, “it seems a bit snooty, but that’s the way he wants it.”

By this time they had found a cab to take them to the nearest shopping area. They rode in silence, wondering what other surprises were in store for them.

* * *

Back at the hotel, Jay, Peter, and Zack went up in the elevator together and walked down the corridor to Zack’s room. Zack opened the door and motioned for them to enter and sit down. He made sure that Francois hadn’t followed them before closing the door. “Would you like something to drink?” he asked.

“Some coffee would be nice,” Peter said.

Zack went over to the bar where there was some fresh brewed coffee that the maid had left. He poured some into three cups and brought them over to the coffee table in front of the sofa. He sat down, sipped his coffee, and stared off into space.

Peter was getting impatient for an explanation. “Did you find out anything yesterday, Zack?”

Zack took another sip of coffee before answering, giving himself time to decide how to explain. “Not as much as I would have liked,” he told Peter. “Francois’ father was married before. His first wife, Countess Vivienne Poitiers, was killed in a riding accident, and he married Francois’ mother, Countess Lilli Claude, a month later. Francois was five years old when they were married.”

Peter was silent. After a moment he raised his eyebrows. “So he’s not Francois’ real father?” He sounded skeptical. “Or is he? Strange that he’d marry again so soon after losing his first wife. Were he and Lilli Claude having an affair?”

“The same thought occurred to Jay and me,” Zack replied. “But I have a feeling it’s not that simple.”

“Sounds like hanky-panky to me,” Peter said. “Somehow you expect royalty to be above that sort of thing.”

Jay chuckled. “You see plenty of it in the papers.” He frowned. “I hope Francois isn’t a womanizer. If his father is one, he might copy him. Children are very impressionable.”

“I plan to go back to the library tomorrow,” Zack said, “and see if I can’t dig up more information. I’m not quitting. I don’t feel that Francois can make Cammie happy, and I’m hoping to find something that will make her reconsider before she marries him. If I don’t, I’ll do more research when we get to Nuits. You never know where the necessary information will turn up. We have to try every avenue.”

After more lengthy discussion, Peter looked at his watch. “It’s almost eleven-thirty. We’d better leave. The gals may already be back from their shopping, and hungry for lunch.”

“Not a word to the others,” Zack cautioned them. “We need to find out more about this first.”

* * *

Hildy was waiting when Jay entered their room.

“Jay—where have you been?” she greeted him.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” he teased. “Did you get the earrings you wanted?”

“I sure did!” She grinned as she gestured toward her ears. “They’re beautiful. Thanks for thinking of it.” He’s up to something, she thought, but I’m not going to pry.

Cammie’s news had disturbed her deeply. She hated to tell Jay, knowing it would upset him. She motioned for him to sit down. “Jay, there’s something you should know. Cammie told us—Jenny and me—that Francois insists that she give up her career. He feels it’s undignified for a Countess to be on the stage.”

Jay was indignant. “Isn’t that a bit old hat? I thought that kind of thinking went out a long time ago.”

“In our country maybe, but evidently not here in Europe.”

“Cammie loves performing. How does she feel about it?”

Hildy grimaced. “She’s putting up a good front. I know she’s not too happy about it, but it’s her choice. She seems determined to marry Francois and become a Countess.”

Jay rose and began to pace. Then he turned and faced Hildy. “The glamour of being a Countess won’t last long,” he said. “It’ll soon wear thin, and she’ll miss being on the stage.” He sat down again, looking deeply troubled. “I’m getting stronger and stronger doubts about Francois. All I want is her happiness. I’m afraid she’ll have deep regrets when it’s too late to turn things around.”

Hildy gestured helplessly. “What can we do?”

“I think we’re doing all we can under the circumstances.” Jay looked at his watch. “We’d better get going,” he said. “The others are probably in the restaurant wondering where we are.” He grabbed his sweater, ready to leave, then turned back to Hildy. “Does Peter know about this? He’ll be disappointed. He was counting on her being in his next production.”

“I’m sure Jenny has told him by now,” she replied as she headed for the door. “Let’s go. We shouldn’t keep the others waiting.”

They left their room and walked down the corridor toward the elevator, disturbed and not very hungry. When they finished lunch, the limousine was waiting to take them to Versailles.

CHAPTER IX
 

It was a beautiful Parisian day—just right for a visit to the palace with its magnificent flower gardens and ponds. As the group entered the immense cobblestoned courtyard, the statue of Louis XIV, perched high on his horse, seemed to welcome them.